Ornamental chain with links having an upset joint having a stone receiving recess



Jan. 12, 1960 w. R. KUNZMANN ETAL 2,920,442

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN WITH LINKS HAVING AN UPSET JOINT HAVING A STONERECEIVING RECESS Filed Julyvzs, 195e JNVENToRs.

mi i United States Patent f ice I Walter R. Kunzmann and Siegfried K.Kunzmann, Cranston, RJ., assignors to Kunzmann Chain Company,Providence, RJ., a corporation of Rhode Island Application July 23,1956, Serial No. 599,440 s Claims. (ci. ssi- 80) This, invention relatesto ornamental chains in general, and to ornamental chains with insetstones in particular. Y

Settings for stones in prior ornamental chains, and especially inmass-produced chains, are provided by forming blanked sheet-metal chainlinks or parts thereof into socket-like receptacles or providing themwith projeeting prongs, or both. As a result, these chain links havelittle, if any, ornamental appearance themselves, but serve primarily asmere holders for the stones which, in turn, are relied on to lend thechain the desiredornamental appearance. Accordingly, these prior chainshave a pronounced mono-.ornamental appearance created primarily by thestones themselves and littleaffected by the chain links.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chainpwithV insetstones of which the chain links themselves have av highly ornamentalappearanceV distinct from, yet tastefully blending with, the ornamentalappearance of the stones, thereby not only lending the chain an overallappearance which is no longer mono-ornamental as heretofore, but alsoimmeasurably enhancing the possibilities of major as well as minorvariations in the overall design and appearance of the chain.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chain of thistype of which the links may be formed exclusively from ywire stock andconcatenated, by hand or vautomatic machinery, and may be provided withsettings for stones by simple deformation of a part of each link whichdoes not in the least afectthe ornamental appearance of the rest of thelink, thereby not only making available for chains of this type the manydifferent ornamental designs and appearances of wire-formed links andalso vbringing the stones into closest possible proximity to the exposedornamental link parts for optimum blending of their respectiveornamental appearances, but also achieving the formation f the stonesettings in the links without any sheet-metal or other special partstherein and in an exceedingly simple manner which is highly conducive toeilicient mass production of the chain and hardly adds to the low costof the original link formation'and concatenation so that the overallcost of the chain with the inset stones remains exceedingly low.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro- Y vide a chainof this type in which the aforementioned Wire-forrned links have.interhooked wire lengths which for the formation of stone settings aredeformed by compression into such tight mutual interlock as. to formsubstantiallyuninterrupted socket surfaces which accurately iit thestones, thereby not only affording a maximum area between lthe links andstones Vfor the attachment of the latter'to the former, preferably bycementing, but also reenforcing the settings so that they will nevergive despite their interhooked wire origin and, hence, retain the stonesmost securely for the longest time and even if the chain shouldaccidentally be tensioned or twisted excessively. 1

Another object of the present invention isto provide Patented Jan. l2,19,60

a chain of this type in which the aforementioned interhooked wirelengths of the links are so deformed by compression as to leaveimpressions of distinct depth therein, of which the bottoms aresubstantially continuous and accurately t the bottoms of stones intendedtherefor and the upstanding rims thereof are sharply defined in theotherwise non-compressed remainders of these wire lengths and receivethe stones also in accurately fitted fashion, thereby not only bringingthe stones into closest possible proximity to the exposed ornamentallink parts for optimum blending of their respective ornamentalappearances, as aforementioned, and without any interruption in thecontinuity of the overall ornamental design or appearance of the chainby the Well-hidden settings of the stones thereof, butv also furtherenhancing the firm mount ofthe stones in their settings, whether bycementing or otherwise.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a chain of thistype in which the aforementioned interhooked wire lengths of the linksfor the stone settings are at opposite ends thereof anked by other Wirelengths of the same links in the form of closed loops which are of suchdimensions as to permit their concatenation for connection of theindividual links into a chain having the requisite flexibility forcomfortable and appealing Wear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chain of thistype in which the bottoms of the aforementioned stone settings in thelinks thereof may, simultaneously with the formation of the settings bya power-driven punch or ram, be provided With shallow depressions,thereby assuring the retention in these depressions of distinct layersof a suitable cement which cannot possibly be squeezed therefrom onpressing the stones in place and, hence, will act to secure the latterin their settings with optimum firmness.

I Another object of the present invention is to devise a method ofproducing, and especially mass-producing, a chain of this type withgreat eiciency and at a cost which is exceedingly low.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

g Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective View of a chain embodying thepresent invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary top, sideand bottom views,respectively, of the same chain;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections through the same chain taken substantially onthe lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, of

Fig. 2;

Fig. 6Aris an enlarged section through the chain, similar to the sectionof Fig. 6, but with the ornament omitted from the sectioned link of thechain;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top View of the chain prior to itsfinish-formation into that of Figs. l and 2; Figs. 8 and 9 are sectionsthrough the partly-finished chain of Fig. 7 as taken on the lines 8-8and 9-9 thereof, respectively;

Fig. l() illustrates an apparatus performing an intermediate step in theformation of the chain in accordance with a certain method;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section through the apparatus as taken on theline 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the partly linished vchainimmediately after being performed on by the apparatus of Fig. l0;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a link of achainembodyng the present invention ina modified manner;

Fig. 14 is a transverse section through the same link shown in Fig. 13;and

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a link of a chainembodying the present invention in a further modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l to 6thereof, the reference numeral 2t) designates an exemplary ornamentalchain having concatenated ornamental links 22 with inset ornaments, inthis instance stones 24. It is characteristic of the present inventionthat the settings 26 for the stones 24- in the links 22 (Figs. 5 and 6)are provided directly in intermediate link portions that are formed byhooked wire lengths which prior to the formation of the settings thereinare interhooked in a common plane.

Fig. 7 shows the exemplary chain 20 prior to formation of the settings26 in the links 22 thereof. Thus, each link 22 has an intermediateportion or length of which at least a part 27 thereof is formed byhooked wire lengths 23 and 30 that are interhooked in a common plane x-x(Fig. 8). In the present example, each link 22 is formed throughout ofwire stock, presently of two wires w and w, of which w' forms the tophook 23, then continues as an end loop 32 and nally terminates as a hook34 underneath and offset from the top hook 23 (Figs. 7, 8 and 4), whilewire w forms the other top hook 30, then continues as the other end loop36 and finally terminates as a hook 38 beneath and offset from the tophook 39. The links 22 may successively be formed, by hand or automaticmachinery, and in the course of their formation be interlinked with eachother at their adjacent end loops 32 and 36. Further, the opposite endloops or bights 32 and 36 of the generally U- shaped wires w and w ofeach link 22 are, in the present instance, twisted or Curbed (Fig. l)for their continuity with the respective top and bottom hooks 2S, 34 and36, 3S. Moreover, the opposite end loops 32 and 36 of each link 22 aretwisted or curbed in opposite directions so that the interlinked endloops will, on ordinary wear of the chain, compel the links into orderlyand sightly disposition in the same plane (Fig. l). However, the endloops 32 and 36 of each link are so dimensioned that despite theirconcatenation with the end loops of the adjacent links all links maymove relative to each other with suicient freedom to lend the chainadequate ilexibility for comfortable and appealing wear.

The instant exemplary chain (Fig. 7), which may be conventional in everyrespect, is highly ornamental in its own right and is demonstrative ofthe many possible ornamental designs and appearances of chains made upof links that are formed exclusively from wire stock.

As mentioned earlier, the settings for the stones in the various linksof a chain are, in accordance with the present invention, provideddirectly in intermediate link portions formed by hooked wire lengthswhich are interhooked in a common plane. :in the chain shown, of whichthe exemplary links 22 are formed throughout of wire stock, the settings26 in these links are formed, on the same side or face of the chain, inthe link parts 27, and more particularly in the previously designatedtop interhooked wire lengths 23 and 30 thereof. To this end, the topinterhooked Wire lengths 28 and 3i) of each link 22 are in part deformedby compression from opposite sides of the plane x-x (Fig. 8) into suchtight mutual interlock as to form a depression therein (setting 26) witha substantially continuous bottom surface 40 (see also Fig. l2).

While the partial deformation by compression of the link parts 27 forthe formation of the stone settings 26 therein may be achieved invarious ways, as by driving a hand punch partly into the top interhookedwire lengths 28 and 36 of each link, this is preferably andadvantageously achieved with the aid of a power-operated punch 42 (Figs.l0 and ll) and in accordance with a certain method. Thus, insofar as themethod is concerned, this involves the steps of backing each link 22with its intermediate part 27 planewise against a surface andconstraining it at its opposite sides or edges against planewiseexpansion, and thereupon forcing a punch with the same surfaceconfiguration as that of the stone bottom partly into the topinterhooked wire lengths 28 and 30 to form the setting 26. To carry outthis method, the chain 26 is placed with its bottom face 44 against thebottom or backing surface 46 of a longitudinal groove 48 in a block orsupport 50 (Fig. ll), while the opposite side walls 52 of the groove 4Sflank the chain (Fig. 1l) and are in suiciently close proximity theretosubstantially to restrain the same against planewise expansion laterallyof its longitudinal extent. Cooperating with the block Si) is the punch42 the end surface 56 of which is of the same configuration as thebottom of each stone intended for the chain. In the present instance,the bottom of each stone is flat and of oval outline, wherefore the endsurface 56 of the punch 42 is similarly formed. The punch 42 maysuitably be carried by a powerdriven ram 58 under manual or suitableautomatic control.

The chain 2i) may, by hand or any suitable automatic means, be indexedin the groove or channel 48 in the block 50, toward the left in Fig. l0,in such steps as to bring the top interhooked Wire lengths 28 and 30 ofsuccessive links 22 to station A in which the former are in operativealignment with the punch 42, while the latter will during successiveintermittent stops of the chain descend and form the settings 26 in theoperatively aligned links, the latter then preferably being backedagainst a hardened steel wear plate 66 in the block 50.

In thus descending by power operation on the operatively aligned link22a (Figs. l0 and ll), the end surface 56 of the punch will firstcontact an inner part of the top interhooked wire lengths 28 and 36 ofthe link and impress an outline of the setting or depression 26 thereinwhich on continued descent of the punch will be carried to its ultimatedesired depth. The compression to which the intermediate link part 27 isthus subjected by the punch 42 has the effect of forcing the topinterhooked wire lengths 23 and 30 within the confines of the formedsetting 26 into such tight mutual interlock that the bottom 40 of thelatter is to all pracical intents and purposes a continuous surface(Figs. 6A and l2) against which the bottom surface of an inserted stonewill fit quite accurately (Figs. 5 and 6). The compression to which theintermediate link part 27 is subjected by the punch 42 has the furthereffect of forcing also the bottom interhooked wire lengths 34 and 38into tight mutual interlock with each other and also attening them sothat their bottom surface 64 is substantially flat and continuous (Fig.4).

The setting 26 thus formed in the link 22a is also sharply defined inthe remaining non-deformed marginal portions 66 ofthe top interhookedwire lengths 28 and 30, so much so that a stone placed in the settingcompletely occupies the latter, wherefore highly pleasing continuity inthe individual ornamental appearances of the link and inserted stoneand, hence, optimum blending of their individual ornamental appearancesinto an exceedingly appealing overall pattern or design, are achieved.This is due primarily to the restraint against lateral expansion imposedon the link, in the present instance, by the opposite side walls 52 ofthe groove 48 in the block 50 (Fig. ll) and the ensuing sharply definedpenetration of the sharp edge 68 of the punch 42 into the topinterhooked Wire lengths 28 and 30.

In forming the setting 26 in the link 22a of sufficient depth (Fig. l2),the depression thereof may continue peripherally throughout the topinterhooked wire lengths 28 and 30 and thus leave the non-deformedmarginal portions 66 thereof to form a highly pleasing immediatebackground which frames an inserted stone peripherally throughout (Fig.2).

After formation of the setting 26 in the link 22a, the

therein bythe latter in the manner previously described in connectionwith link 22a. This is repeated until all the links of the chain areprovided with settings for stones.

A convenient and eflcient arrangement is to lead the chain 22 on itsemergence from an automatic chainforming machine directly onto the block50 and into the groove 48 which conveniently may be formed by spacedrails or bars 70 on top of the block, suitable chain indexing mechanismbeing preferably interposed between the machine and station A on theblock to effect and control proper advance of successive chain linksinto operative alignment with the punch 42. The chain, after formationof the settings in successive links thereof, may then leave the block 50and advantageously be permitted to descend by gravity into a lowerreceptacle in which it may collect. In thus permitting the gravitydescent of the chain from the block 50, the length thereof in the blockis most likely kept suciently taut to be stripped from the punch 42 oneach ascent of the latter after a setting formation. However, a specialstripper or strippers may be resorted to if desired or necessary.

After the links 22 of the chain 20 are thus formed with the settings 26,the stones 24 may be forced into the latter, preferably after firstapplying a suitable cement either to the settings or to the stones, orboth, for secure retention of the latter in the former.

If cement is relied on to secure the stones in their settings, or tosecurethem more firmly therein than could be achieved with a merepresst, the bottom surface 40 of the setting 26 in each link mayadvantageously be provided with relatively shallow depressions 72 toserve as receptacles for cement c (Fig. 13) which thus cannot besqueezed from the setting on forcing the stone 24 thereinto and, hence,will assuredly remain in the setting and form an effective and enduringbond between the latter and the inserted stone. The shallow depressions72 in the bottom of the setting 26 may readily be formed by a system ofnarrow and low transverse rib formations 74 and 76 thereon (Fig. 13 and14) which may readily be impressed therein by projections (not shown) onthe end surface 56 of the punch 42.

While in the described exemplary chain 20 the bottoms of the insertedstones 24 are ilat and the bottoms of their settings 26 are accordinglyflat, it is, of course, fully within the purview of the presentinvention to provide the inserted stones with bottom surfaces which areother than tlat and to form the bottoms of their settings accordingly.Thus, Fig. shows a chain link 22 with an exemplary spherical stone 76for which a semispherical setting 78 is provided in the link.

It follows from the preceding that the instant exemplary chain achievesall of the aforementioned objectives. Thus, the chain links themselvesmay have a highly ornamental appearance distinct from, yet tastefullyblending with, the ornamental appearance of the stones. Also, by virtueof the formation of the links of the exemplary chain exclusively fromwire stock and the formation of the settings therein by mere deformationof sharply defined wire portions thereof which does not in the leastaffect the ornamental appearance of the remaining non-deformed wireportions thereof, many different typical and other ornamental designsand appearances of wire-formed links are made available forstone-adorned chains, and the stones are brought into closest possibleproximity to the exposed ornamental link parts for optimum blending ofand continuity between their respective ornamental appearances.Furthermore, the described formation of the stone settings in the chainlinks is achieved without any sheet metal parts 6 therein and in anexceedingly simple mannerwhich is highly conducive to eicient massproduction of the chain and hardly adds to the low cost of the originallink formation and concatenation so that the overall cost of the chainwith the inset stones remains exceedingly low. Moreover, the formationof thev stone settings by deformation on compression of interhooked wirelengths offthe links into such tight mutual interlock as to formsubstantially uninterrupted setting surfaces which accurately lit thestones, not only affords a maximum contact area between the linksV andstones for the attachment of the latter to the former, but alsoreenforces the settings so that they will never give despite theirinterhooked Wire on'gin and, hence, retain the stones most securely forthe longest time and even if the chain should be accidentally tensionedor twisted excessively. Also, if it is desired to provide the bottoms ofthe settings with shallow depressions for secure retention of a bondingcement and, hence, secure attachment of stones in the settings bycementing, the aforementioned tight mutual interlock of the interhookedwire lengths and ensuing continuity of the bottom surfaces of thesettings is highly desirable and advantageous in that they prevent theleakage of the cement from the settings in the rst place.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth with departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended tovbe embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A link for a chain, comprising two U-shaped wire portions with thelegs of each of said portions extending in a lengthwise direction towardeach other and in overlapping superimposed relation, each leg of each U-portion being doubled back upon itself in hook form with vthe hooks ofthe legs of each portion being superimposed and interlocking in tightengagement with the hooks of the other of said U-portions, the wire atthe bight of each of said U-portions being uniform in cross section andcurbed, and the hooks at the mid-portion of the link and inside avsubstantially continuous margin of them being flattened so as to be intight mutual interlock within said margin and formed inside the latterand at one face of the link with a depression having a substantiallycontinuous bottom surface and substantially continuous upstanding rimand being' adapted as a fitting mount for an ornament.

2. A link for a chain, comprising two U-shaped Wire portions with thelegs of each of said portions extending in a lengthwise direction towardeach other and in overlapping superimposed relation, each leg of eachU-portion being doubled back upon itself in hook from with the hooks ofthe legs of each portion being superimposed and interlocking intight'engagement with the hooks of the other of said U-portions, thewire at the bight of each of said U-portions being uniform in crosssection and curbed, and the hooks at the mid-portion of the link andinside a substantially continuous margin of them being flattened so asto be in tight mutual interlock within said margin and formed inside thelatter and at one face of the link with a depression having asubstantially continuous bottom surface and substantially continuousupstanding rim and being adapted as a fitting setting for an ornament,and with said continuous bottom surface having a plurality of shallowdepressions therein for retaining cement.

3. A link for a chain, comprising two U-shaped wire portions with thelegs of each of said portions extending in a lengthwise direction towardeach other and in overlapping superimposed relation, each leg of eachU-portion being doubled back upon itself in hook form with the hooks ofthe legs of each portion being superimposed and interlocking in tightengagement With the hooks of the other of said U-portions, the Wire atthe bight of each of said U-portions being uniform in cross section andcurbed, and the hooks at the mid-portion of the link and inside asubstantially continuous margin of them 5 being attened so as to be intight mutual interlock within said margin and formed inside the latterand at one face of the link with a depression having a substantiallycontinuous bottom surface and substantially continuous upstanding rimand an ornamental stone ttedly re- 10 ceived and secured in saiddepression.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSLederer Dec. 11, Williams May 3, Breul Aug. 6, Dover Jan. 27, AndrewsJan. 3, Jaeger July 7,

